Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

Hanging up the phone, Gu Nan leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. He wasn't really there for the meeting; he just wanted to stir things up with Deputy Factory Director Li and make him feel a bit stifled. As for what Deputy Factory Director Li would think? That was none of his business.

Outside the window, Deputy Factory Director Li was engrossed in conversation with Xu Damao when he suddenly heard the announcement of a meeting over the loudspeaker. His smile froze, and he glanced up at the office building, a hint of gloom in his eyes. Xu Damao was also taken aback, looking at Deputy Factory Director Li, then at the office building, unsure whether to stay or leave immediately.

Deputy Factory Director Li sat behind his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface. His gaze fell on Xu Damao, with a hint of scrutiny: "Xu Damao, do you know why I called you here?"

Xu Damao knew perfectly well what was going on in the factory lately. After Director Yang's incident, various factions were secretly vying for power. What good could it be for a movie projectionist like himself to be summoned by the deputy director? But he pretended to be clueless, bowing and smiling, "I wonder what Deputy Director Li wants from me? Is the factory organizing a movie screening? I recently got a few new films, all popular ones." He knew that in the eyes of these leaders, he was nothing more than a pawn that could be discarded at any time, but if he openly refused, he would probably lose his job.

Deputy Factory Director Li sighed inwardly—he certainly didn't want someone like Xu Damao. But he was in charge of logistics and didn't have much real power, unlike Gu Nan, who managed the production workshop and had a group of directors who listened to him. Now, if he wanted to find someone who could get close to Gu Nan, he could only pick someone like Xu Damao who had interacted with Gu Nan in the courtyard.

Just as he was about to speak, the phone on the desk suddenly rang, its sharp ring breaking the silence of the office. Deputy Factory Director Li frowned, answered the phone, and after listening for only a few words, his face darkened instantly. He said "Understood" into the receiver, slammed the phone down, and his chest heaved violently.

"You bastard Gu Nan! I only asked Xu Damao, and he actually called all the workshop directors to a meeting without even telling me! This is clearly a deliberate attempt to embarrass me and assert his presence!" Deputy Factory Director Li became increasingly angry, pointing at Xu Damao, his voice filled with suppressed rage: "I called you here for one thing—keep an eye on Gu Nan. Don't you all live in the same courtyard? Write down everything he does in the courtyard, who he meets, and what he says, down to the smallest detail, and report to me immediately."

Xu Damao's heart skipped a beat, but he dared not show it on his face and quickly nodded, "I understand, Deputy Factory Director Li." But then he thought, wasn't this blatantly asking him to be an informant? If Gu Nan found out, given that guy's personality, he wouldn't be able to pay for it even with ten lives. He tentatively added, "However... things have been quite peaceful in the compound lately, nothing special has happened. Deputy Factory Director Gu usually leaves early and returns late, he's either at work or at home, there's been no disturbance."

Deputy Factory Director Li waved his hand impatiently, clearly not wanting to hear any of this: "Whether it's important or not, just keep an eye on it. Go on."

Xu Damao felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and quickly replied "Yes," before leaving, gently closing the door behind him. He was in a state of turmoil—this task was a hot potato; he couldn't decide whether to accept it or not.

Meanwhile, in the conference room of the production workshop, Gu Nan stood at the front, his gaze sweeping over the workshop directors sitting below, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone knows that Director Yang had an accident, but the factory's production cannot stop, and the machines cannot be idle. We are a large state-owned factory, shouldering the country's production tasks, and we must ensure normal operation, understand?"

A director immediately couldn't help but ask, "Deputy Factory Director Gu, what exactly happened? What about Factory Director Yang...?"

Gu Nan shook his head, his tone calm: "I don't know the specifics right now, but I can guess a bit. But no matter the final outcome, no matter who sits in the factory director's position, the country's production tasks cannot be delayed, and we must do our job well. The production line cannot stop, and the quality cannot be reduced. This is the bottom line, understand?"

The directors exchanged glances, their minds filled with questions, but none of them pressed further. Gu Nan was always decisive and his words were always reasonable; they couldn't find fault with him.

Seeing this, Gu Nan took out the production plan he had prepared in advance and assigned tasks one by one: "Workshop One should focus on producing bearings this week, and the machine tool maintenance in Workshop Two cannot be delayed... Okay, the specific tasks are all here, everyone take them back and implement them as soon as possible."

After the meeting, Gu Nan watched everyone leave, feeling nothing. He had no interest in the factory director's position; his priority was stabilizing production. As for Deputy Director Li's petty tricks, he didn't care at all—whoever was the factory director, as long as production wasn't affected and they didn't cause him trouble, it was none of his concern. He just wanted to protect his business, safeguard his family, and live a peaceful life.

Gu Nan never cared about the factory director's position. After all, with his current status, how could they possibly touch him? Even if he were really dismissed, he would live a good life at home and could do whatever he wanted.

Xu Damao still quietly arrived at Gu Nan's door. After all, he still had to choose sides. Compared to Deputy Factory Director Li, he felt that Gu Nan had a better chance.

Xu Damao knocked on the door: "Vice Factory Director Gu, it's me, Xu Damao."

Gu Nan knew Xu Damao wasn't stupid; he knew how to choose sides. So he nodded and said, "Okay, come in."

Xu Damao went inside and then looked at Gu Nan: "Deputy Factory Director Gu, I have something to tell you."

Gu Nan smiled, then looked at Xu Damao and said, "Oh, no rush, you can speak slowly." As he spoke, he poured Xu Damao a glass of water.

Xu Damao also hurriedly stood up, then looked at Gu Nan and said, "Deputy Factory Director Gu, I can do it myself."

Xu Damao looked at Gu Nan, not expecting that Gu Nan was still so kind to him. This further strengthened his resolve to side with Gu Nan. Even if he lost, it wouldn't matter, since Gu Nan would never betray him.

But Deputy Director Li is different. After all, if I hadn't had something on Deputy Director Li last time, he would have abandoned me. If I had joined Deputy Director Li's faction, I would have been a complete fool.

Xu Damao looked at Gu Nan, then closed the office door: "Vice Factory Director Gu, I have something very important to tell you, really."